Department of Public Safety
Fire Prevention and Safety Tips


October is National Fire Prevention Month.

Here are some tips to keep you and your family safe:

  • Change the batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors when you change your clocks.
     
  • Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors monthly.
     
  • Have at least one working smoke alarm on each level of your home.
     
  • Plan, discuss and practice an escape route with your family for dangerous situations such as home fires, carbon monoxide leaks and natural disasters.
     
  • Ensure that all household members know two ways to escape from every room of your home.
     
  • Make sure everyone knows where to meet outside in case of fire.
     
  • Do not ignore the chirping sound your smoke alarm makes when maintenance is required.
     
  • Never smoke in bed.
     
  • Use flashlights of flameless candles rather than candles to light your home during power outages.
     
  • Carbon monoxide detectors are NOT substitutes for smoke alarms.
     
  • Be sure that you have at least one or more UL listed fire extinguishers in your home.
     
  • Always extinguish candles before leaving the room or going to bed.  Do not leave a room before blowing out all candles.
     
  • Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as space heaters
     
  • Turn portable heaters off when you leave the room or go to sleep.
     
  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking. If you leave the kitchen even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.

City of Pittsburgh Fire Bureau information, including programs, resources and contact information: pittsburghpa.gov/fire

In an emergency, please always call 911!


Additional fire safety and prevention tips and information:

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/

http://www.ready.gov/home-fires

http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4340073_FireSafety.pdf